QUOTE (investmart @ Aug 25 2009, 09:15 PM) Hello Heather, as a REIN member perhaps you can change "Pharmacist" to "Real Estate". True - some investors may lose their mind before others do and require some pills. not sure how many clients you`ll find here though
Investmart,
(I think this is topic jumping but) You may have a point, but consider how the traits of a good pharmacist are beneficial for a successful real estate investor:
1. In surveys that ask participants to assign trustworthiness to various professions, pharmacists are at or near the top.
2. Pharmacists know how to document which generally leads to good planning, organizing, and follow up.
3. Pharmacists must navigate bureaucracy on a daily basis, lots of practice solving problems!
4. Not intimidated at the prospect of making cold calls (in my case, making the call to a recently deceased patient`s spouse for the return of drug administration equipment, so another patient can have his last days more comfortable).
5. Endures interruptions all day long and still perseveres to the intended end point.
6. Daily practice of communication skills in difficult/embarassing situations.
7. Belief/responsibility in continuing (practical) education.
8. Accept responsibility of medication management in life altering situations (in my case: chemotherapy, methadone, intravenous narcotics, injection administration, pharmacist prescribing).
9. Another source of local economic indicators (is there an increase in customers who have lost their drug plan due to job loss, are more people on social services, are less people having medications refilled on time, are more people choosing to keep smoking than trying to quit?, is there an increase in prescriptions for pain killers, muscle relaxants, antidepressants or anti-anxiety agents?)
10. Interact with a huge number of diverse groups, excellent networking opportunities.
I`m aware that many people have no use for medications or pharmacists, but it is what I`ve chosen to do as my j.o.b., sometimes it is even a c.a.r.e.e.r.!
The reason for indentifying myself as a pharmacist is two fold: my potential customers are pharmacy owners (not pharmacy users) and those interested in real estate investing.
1. Pharmacy owners have urgent needs for a contract pharmacist. There are pharmacist shortages now, they will increase as baby boomers decide to slow down. Many new grads are offered more to practice in the USA. Pharmacist owners are well known to have more money than time!
2. I think this is my "unfair advantage" (everyone has one, what`s yours?).
I am an educated person (university, residency) in a "secure" profession with the means and ability to take calculated risks; an ethical and moral standard that guides my decisions (some regulated by law and professional body) coupled with good communications skills, information seeking abilities, a wide network of professionals, and a stable, healthy personal life (okay, I get 50 % credit for marrying the right person!) who owns 20 doors using very little of our own money.
Okay, enough self-aggrandizement.
Regards,
